Despite the economic situation, companies and traditional village-basedproducers are making all efforts to meet the usual surge in demandduring Tet (the Lunar New Year) and improve quality and design, a Ho ChiMinh City official has said.
Le Ngoc Dao, deputydirector of the Department of Industry and Trade, said at a seminar onnew Vietnamese products and special features for the longest and mostimportant yearly festival: "With higher quality, Vietnamese productshave met the increasing demand of consumers and gradually competed withimports."
Around 20 firms like Vissan, Pham NguyenBakery, An Giang Fruit-Vegetables and Foodstuff Joint Stock Company, SaiGon Food, Phu Le Wine JS Company, and Hanh Phuc Fish Sauce Companydisplayed many new products they plan to produce for Tet.
They assured adequate supply besides promotions to meet customers' needs during the festival.
Phan Van Dung of Vissan, one of the country's biggest meat processingfirms, said production for Tet had begun as long ago as June to ensureenough supply so that prices remain stable until after the festival.
"Along with supermarket chain Co.opmart, his company would slash meatprices on the last two days before Tet – which falls on January 31 thisyear – to enable poor people to buy since prices spike at traditionalmarkets on those days," he said.
Le Thanh Truc of Phu Le Wine JSC said local specialities like traditional wine are very popular during Tet.
The company would unveil many ne w designs for gifts during the NewYear, she said, adding that it plans to increase supply 10-fold to avoida shortage like last year.
Sai Gon Food also plansto increase supply this year after a shortage last Tet, Le Thi ThanhLam, the company's deputy general director, said.
Tran Thai Ha, managing director of the Binh Duong branch of Huu NghiFood JSC, said the company would supply 5,000 tonnes of confectionery inthe south during Tet, expecting sales to increase by two or threetimes.
Nguyen Thanh Nhan, deputy general director ofSai Gon Co.op – which owns Co.opmart – said: "Demand is expected toincrease by 10-20 percent over last Tet."
Sai Gon Co.op's supply of essential goods during the New Year will increase two- or three-fold over the normal time.
It will organise 150 mobile sales trips to rural areas and industrialparks and hopes to sell goods worth more than 20 billion VND (almost1million USD).
Apart from selling essential goods at10 percent less than market prices under the city's price stabilisationprogramme, Sai Gon Co.op will also cut prices of other products by10-50 percent in co-operation with suppliers just ahead of Tet.
Domestically made products would continue to dominate the market due to their reasonable prices, Nhan said.
Dao said since supply would be ample, prices would not increase suddenly during Tet.
In any case, the department would monitor markets and severely punish hoarders and black-marketers, she said.
The conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16 by the HighQuality Vietnamese Products Business Association, the Tuoi Trenewspaper, and Co.opmart as part of a programme called "VietnameseTet-Vietnamese goods".
Le Ngoc Dao, deputydirector of the Department of Industry and Trade, said at a seminar onnew Vietnamese products and special features for the longest and mostimportant yearly festival: "With higher quality, Vietnamese productshave met the increasing demand of consumers and gradually competed withimports."
Around 20 firms like Vissan, Pham NguyenBakery, An Giang Fruit-Vegetables and Foodstuff Joint Stock Company, SaiGon Food, Phu Le Wine JS Company, and Hanh Phuc Fish Sauce Companydisplayed many new products they plan to produce for Tet.
They assured adequate supply besides promotions to meet customers' needs during the festival.
Phan Van Dung of Vissan, one of the country's biggest meat processingfirms, said production for Tet had begun as long ago as June to ensureenough supply so that prices remain stable until after the festival.
"Along with supermarket chain Co.opmart, his company would slash meatprices on the last two days before Tet – which falls on January 31 thisyear – to enable poor people to buy since prices spike at traditionalmarkets on those days," he said.
Le Thanh Truc of Phu Le Wine JSC said local specialities like traditional wine are very popular during Tet.
The company would unveil many ne w designs for gifts during the NewYear, she said, adding that it plans to increase supply 10-fold to avoida shortage like last year.
Sai Gon Food also plansto increase supply this year after a shortage last Tet, Le Thi ThanhLam, the company's deputy general director, said.
Tran Thai Ha, managing director of the Binh Duong branch of Huu NghiFood JSC, said the company would supply 5,000 tonnes of confectionery inthe south during Tet, expecting sales to increase by two or threetimes.
Nguyen Thanh Nhan, deputy general director ofSai Gon Co.op – which owns Co.opmart – said: "Demand is expected toincrease by 10-20 percent over last Tet."
Sai Gon Co.op's supply of essential goods during the New Year will increase two- or three-fold over the normal time.
It will organise 150 mobile sales trips to rural areas and industrialparks and hopes to sell goods worth more than 20 billion VND (almost1million USD).
Apart from selling essential goods at10 percent less than market prices under the city's price stabilisationprogramme, Sai Gon Co.op will also cut prices of other products by10-50 percent in co-operation with suppliers just ahead of Tet.
Domestically made products would continue to dominate the market due to their reasonable prices, Nhan said.
Dao said since supply would be ample, prices would not increase suddenly during Tet.
In any case, the department would monitor markets and severely punish hoarders and black-marketers, she said.
The conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16 by the HighQuality Vietnamese Products Business Association, the Tuoi Trenewspaper, and Co.opmart as part of a programme called "VietnameseTet-Vietnamese goods".
